Light source having multiple differently-colored emitters

Abstract

An emitter module for a light-emitting diode (LED) light source may comprise a substrate, and a plurality of emitters mounted to the substrate, where each emitter is configured to produce illumination at a different wavelength, and the number of emitters is greater than four (e.g., five emitters). The emitter module may also comprise a dome mounted to the substrate and encapsulating the plurality of emitters. Each of the plurality of emitters is arranged such that a center of the emitter is located on a circular center line that has a center that is the same as a center of the dome. Each of the plurality of emitters is located on a different primary radial axis of the emitter module. Each of the primary radial axes of the emitter module is equally spaced apart by an offset angle. The emitter module may also comprise an additional one of each of the emitters at each of the different wavelengths (e.g., ten total emitters).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An illumination device comprising:
 a first plurality of LED emitters, the first plurality including five or more LED emitters;
 wherein each of the LED emitters produces a luminous output having a different wavelength; and 
 wherein each of the LED emitters included in the first plurality of the LED emitters is disposed at equal angles about first circle having a first radius from a center point; and 
 
 a second plurality of LED emitters, the second plurality including five or more LED emitters
 wherein each of the LED emitters included in the second plurality of LED emitters produces a luminous output having a wavelength the same as respective ones of the first plurality of LED emitters; 
 wherein each of the LED emitters is disposed at equal angles about second circle having a second radius from the center point, the second radius greater than the first radius; and 
 wherein the LED emitters disposed on the first circle and on the second circle and having the same wavelength output are disposed at an angle of 180 degrees opposed with respect to each other. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The illumination device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one photosensitive element, the at least one photosensitive element disposed about a third circle having a third radius greater than the second radius. 
 
     
     
       3. The illumination device of  claim 2  wherein the at least one photosensitive element includes at least one of:
 a silicon diode; or 
 a light-emitting diode. 
 
     
     
       4. The illumination device of  claim 3  wherein the at least one photosensitive element includes a plurality of photosensitive elements. 
     
     
       5. The illumination device of  claim 4  wherein the plurality of photosensitive elements includes:
 a first LED having a first wavelength detection range; and 
 a second LED having a second wavelength detection range that is different than the first wavelength detection range. 
 
     
     
       6. The illumination device of  claim 2  further comprising:
 an optical element having a fourth radius greater than the third radius disposed over the first plurality of LED emitters, the second plurality of LED emitters, and the at least one photosensitive element. 
 
     
     
       7. The illumination device of  claim 6  wherein the optical element comprises a hemispherical optical element having a diameter equal to twice the fourth radius. 
     
     
       8. The illumination device of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a reflector disposed about the optical element;
 wherein the reflector includes:
 an open first end having first center point and a first diameter; and 
 an open second end having a second center point second diameter that is greater than the first diameter; and 
 
 wherein the center point of the first plurality of LED emitters and the second plurality of LED emitters aligns with the first center point and the second center point. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The illumination device of  claim 8  wherein the reflector comprises a parabolic reflector. 
     
     
       10. The illumination device of  claim 9  wherein the reflector further comprises a plurality of lunes extending at least partially from the first end of the reflector to the second end of the reflector. 
     
     
       11. The illumination device of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a lens extending across the open second end of the reflector. 
 
     
     
       12. The illumination device of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a plurality of lenslets disposed across at least a portion of at least one surface of the lens. 
 
     
     
       13. The illumination device of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 LED drive circuitry operatively coupled to the first plurality of LED emitters and the second plurality of LED emitters, the LED drive circuitry to adjust at least one of:
 an output intensity of the illumination device; or 
 an output color temperature of the illumination device. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The illumination device of  claim 8  wherein the LED drive circuitry to further:
 generate at least one feedback signal that includes:
 information representative of at least one operating parameter associated with at least a portion of the first plurality of LED emitters; and 
 information representative of at least one operating parameter associated with at least a portion of the second plurality of LED emitters. 
 
 
     
     
       15. The illumination device of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 LED drive control circuitry operatively coupled to the LED drive circuitry and to the at least one photosensitive element, the LED drive control circuitry to:
 receive the at least one feedback signal from the LED drive circuitry; 
 receive an illumination device target output parameter that includes at least one of:
 a target output intensity of the illumination device; or 
 a target output color temperature of the illumination device; and 
 
 generate at least one control signal using:
 the received illumination device target output parameter; 
 the at least one feedback signal received from the LED drive circuitry; 
 one or more operating parameters for each respective one of the first plurality of LED emitters; and 
 one or more operating parameters for each respective one of the second plurality of LED emitters; and 
 
 cause a communication of the generated at least one control signal to the LED drive circuitry. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The illumination device of  claim 15  wherein the at least one control signal includes, for each emitter included in the first plurality of LED emitters and for each emitter included in the second plurality of LED emitters, at least one of:
 a drive voltage for the respective LED emitter; or 
 a drive current for the respective LED emitter. 
 
     
     
       17. The illumination device of  claim 11  wherein to generate the at least one control signal, the LED control circuitry to further:
 receive at least one luminous output feedback signal from the at least one photosensitive element for each respective one of the first plurality of LED emitters and for each respective one of the second plurality of LED emitters; and 
 generate the at least one control signal using the received at least one luminous output feedback signal.